Page 28 of Bragg's Love

“She also wants lots and lots of grandchildren,” Olivia adds.

Clementine shrugs. “It’s true. I do.”

And here I was excited when she messaged this morning to ask for my help with her garden. I even thought this might be a new business venture for me – landscaping. I guess not. I grab my things and turn to leave.

Clementine stops me. “Please stay. Eagle made tuna melts, homemade tater tots, and sweet potato pie.”

I glare at her. Those are all my favorite foods. “You don’t play fair.”

“You better not be saying Eagle’s food is better than mine. See if I invite you over again,” Moon complains.

I glance over my shoulder to discover the entire Bragg slash Sky clan is standing in the kitchen with the door wide open listening in on our conversation. Or, almost everyone, I don’t see Miller. Not that I’m searching for him. He can rot in a stinky dungeon submerged in poison ivy for all I care.

I sigh as I give in. “We better get inside before the lot of you single-handedly ruin the environment with an open door in February.”

“Yeah! She’s staying!” Olivia cheers and high-fives Moon. Troublemakers, the lot of them.

I ignore their antics as I walk inside behind Clementine.

“Sit next to me,” Elder insists. When I approach, he kisses my cheek. “Lovely to see you, Eden.”

“Um, thank you?”

What is he up to? Elder has lived in town for a few years now. Since the brewery is two doors down from my store, I know him and we’re friendly, but he’s never kissed my cheek before. How many troublemakers are there in attendance this evening anyway?

I’m sitting down on the chair Elder pulls out for me when Miller suddenly appears at my side. He settles in the chair to my right and Elder in the one to my left. Great. I’m surrounded by Bragg twins.

Elder picks up my plate. “Now, what can I get for you first? You must be starved after working hard all day.”

“Knock it off,” Miller grumbles.

Elder widens his eyes. “Knock what off? Being nice to a beautiful woman?” He smiles at me. “You look lovely tonight, by the way.”

Lovely isn’t the word I’d used to describe myself. I’m dressed in my work clothes – overalls and a sweater I should’ve thrown out years ago considering the amount of holes in it. My hair began the day up in a ponytail but is now plastered to my face with sweat.

“Here.” He reaches his hand toward my hair but Miller bats his hand away.

“Ow! Clementine, Miller hit me,” Elder whines.

“No fighting at the table,” Eagle orders but everyone pretends not to hear him.

Miller glowers at his twin. “You don’t touch a woman without her consent.”

Elder bats his eyelashes at me. “Ms. Eden, do I have permission to touch your hair? You have a twig in it.”

I roll my eyes. Naturally, I do. I probably resemble a kid who’s been playing in dirt all day while Miller looks like he just took a shower. I sniff. Bad idea. Now I can smell his earthy scent. It’s intoxicating. The earth is my jam after all.

Elder removes the twig before showing it to me. “All better now. Except.” He bites his lip. “May I?”

What now? Please don’t have a worm in my hair in front of Miller. Or worse. A spider.

Elder brushes the hair off of my forehead and tucks the strands behind my ear. “There. All better.”

I snort. I doubt it.

“Stop touching her,” Miller orders.

Elder chuckles. “Is someone jealous?”

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